Geometry in Ancient and Medieval India c3.2

c3.2

The originality and antiquity of Indian contribution to these branches of science have been questioned by some of the historians of mathematics. For example while it is generally believed that the credit of having discovered the place value and decimal system goes to India, some distinguished modern writers do not accept this. But in the case of geometry, we are on more solid grounds. Not only are the *Śulba Sūtras* earlier in date to Pythagoras but the entire sacrificial system and the fire altars, *vedis* for which the *Śulba Sūtras* were intended, are already presupposed by the Ṛgvedic hymns.¹ The biased view of the ancient Hindu contribution, either for or against, has been aggravated, as observed by an eminent modern Indian scientist,² by the inadequate publication of the original documents. Needham says “future research on the history of science and technology in Asia, will, in fact, reveal that the achievements of these peoples contribute far more, in all pre-renaissance periods, to the development of world science than has yet been realised.”³ This study to be useful could be undertaken only by those who have scientific equipment, and if these have the additional grounding of a knowledge of Sanskrit, the best possible results could be expected. The material available should be interpreted in terms of modern knowledge in the concerned sciences. It is in this respect that work such as the one being introduced here is important.